The Checkers speech or Fund speech was a television and radio address given on September 23, 1952 by Richard Nixon, who at the time, was the Republican vice presidential candidate and junior United States Senator from California. Senator Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his backers to reimburse him for his political expenses. During the speech in which he defended himself, he stated that regardless of what anyone said, he intended to keep one gift: a black and white dog (above) named Checkers by the Nixon children, thus giving the address its famous name. Nixon’s speech was broadcast from The El Capitan Theater, now known as the Avalon Hollywood in California. He had been staying at a hotel in Portland, Oregon prior to making the address.